RESIDENTS under seige from gangs of youths rampaging their street, have been warned against taking the law into their own hands.

A resident in Merlin Road, Welling, was hit on the head with a brick, as youths ran up and down the street smashing flowerpots, throwing missiles and damaging cars.

Sector police inspector Philip Moore said police had attended a residents' meeting last week because of rumours some were considering taking their own action to stop the youths. He admitted there was an increasing problem with large numbers of youths indulging in anti-social behaviour.

A crackdown in Bexleyheath Broadway has resulted in the youngsters moving into the centre of Welling. But as police stepped up their patrols in Welling's town centre, the young people moved into residential streets.

A number of local youths indentified after the Merlin Road incident on February 25 have been spoken to in front of their parents and warned if they are involved in any disorder, they will be arrested.

Policing was stepped up in the area last weekend, as rumours spread that up to 100 youngsters were threatening to converge on Merlin Road last Saturday night. But the threat did not materialise.

Inspector Moore said police were co-ordinating a strategy to deal with the situation but warned: "Society needs to find a way of providing for teenagers' natural desire to hang out with their mates without the interference of adults, but without letting them run riot."